Lyndon Baines Johnson Essay Example for Free

Lyndon Baines Johnson Essay In President Lyndon B. Johnson’s State of the Union speech in January of 1964, â€Å"The War on Poverty† was declared. Johnson personally appointed Sergeant Shriver to assist him in assembling a committee of academic and civil rights activists. Shriver asked Johns Hopkins University pediatrician, Dr. Robert Cooke, to gather a committee of the best specialists in all fields relating to children (University of Michigan, n.d.). All members of the committee met in January of 1965 to discuss a program intended to assist children in overcoming obstacles or setbacks caused by poverty. The University of Michigan (n.d.) Web site reports that among the suggested names for the program were â€Å"Baby Corps† and â€Å"Kiddie Corps.† Many of the committee members felt that having â€Å"corps† in the title would help link the program to positive political activism. However, it was ultimately agreed that the name Head Start was most suitable. The name refers to the intended close in the achievement gap between lower class students and their middle class peers. The program’s design afforded these students from lower class communities the opportunity to get academically closer to the assessed levels of their future fellow classmates (University of Michigan, n.d.). A few months later, in May of 1965, President Johnson publicly announced Project Head Start in the White House Rose Garden. The same year, Head Start began as an eight-week summer program for children from low-income communities on schedule to be enrolled in public schools in the fall. In that summer, more than 560,000 children across the country were served. The program provided preschool classes, dental care, medical care, and mental health services (University of Michigan, n.d.). The rationale for the institution of the Head Start program, and more importantly, its federal funding, is based on several factors. Children from low-income families are associated with higher rates of academic failure and are at a greater risk for being held back in grade school (Bendersky Lewis, 1994). There is a higher incidence of teen pregnancy as well as poorer adult employment records among those raised in poverty (Lamb, Land, Meadows, Traylor, 2005). Teens that have become pregnant are more likely to drop out of school and once out of school they are forced into accepting lower paying jobs. In turn, they raise their children in poverty. Of children raised in low-income families, 36% attend college, while 88% of students from affluent homes do so (Howard, 2001). Consequently, the disadvantage in terms of wage earning power is perpetuated. There has also been a correlation shown between poverty and an increased likelihood of smoking and illegal drug use (Klerman, 1991). In order to combat the negative consequences of poverty upon a childs outcome and disrupt the cycle, it was hypothesized that intervention programs in early childhood would positively affect long-term development. In fact, research results have borne this out. A great deal has been learned from research regarding the knowledge and skills required for children to be academically successful. Among preschool-aged children, letter knowledge, vocabulary, and phonological awareness, in addition to emotional and social factors, have significant impact on later academic success. For instance, predictions of tenth grade students’ reading scores can be, and have been, made with relatively precise accuracy based on knowledge of fundamental concepts such as the alphabet in kindergarten. As a matter of social policy, ensuring that children are equipped with the basic skills proven necessary to begin school ready to learn is a national responsibility (White House Bush Administration, 2004). Eighty percent of states in the United States have developed initiatives aimed at preparing young children for kindergarten. These 40 states recognize that children from low-income communities typically enter school several steps behind their more privileged peers with regard to skill and basic knowledge. The difficulty is on not only the student, but also the school in compensating for this variance. According to the Head Start Policy Book Web site (White House Bush Administration, 2004) more than half of the children growing up in today’s society are not cared for solely by their biological parents. These various guardianship arrangements play a role in preparation and take a toll on a child’s willingness or ability to focus and be ready to learn the offered curriculum. In 2001, states were given an additional reason for development of high-quality programs geared toward preschoolers with the No Child Left Behind Act. The Act holds states responsible for making sure that math and reading are proficiencies for all children. Based on research related to the positive effects of quality preschool programs coupled with the accountability factor on states for student performance, states should want to take control of delivering Head Start programs to provide a preschool experience that readies children for entering kindergarten (White House Bush Administration, 2004). Head Start’s comprehensive program includes activities intended to promote emotional, cognitive, and social development of children, in addition to providing health services for impoverished children. Taking into account studies on quality preschool programs discussed, seven presidents to date have felt that emphasis on early learning, and education as a top priority is the best method for preparing children for success in the long-term. Research shows that successful acquisition of specific language, reading, and social skills early on in a child’s development predicts future success not only in school, but also in life. This success in and out of the classroom has both a direct and indirect impact on the country as a whole. According to the Head Start Policy Book Web site, â€Å"Head Start sites that have implemented carefully designed programs that focus on school readiness have shown significant gains for children† (White House Bush Administration, 2004). The Strengths Framework has been utilized in composing this document. The first component of this framework states, â€Å"Social policies are societal responses to social problems.† Head Start is a policy that was designed as a direct response to poverty, which is one of America’s historically greatest social problems. In order for the policy to remain continuously successful for another 44 years, politicians must not lose sight of the positive impact that a high quality education has on children as they develop and ideally become productive members of society. Two of the most noted studies on early childhood intervention include the Abecedarian project, which began in 1972 and continued to monitor results for over 21 years, and the Perry Preschool study, which began in 1962 and concluded 27 years later. The findings of the Abecedarian project (Campbell, Ramey, Pungello, Sparling, Miller-Johnson, 2002) included higher cognitive test scores, higher scores for reading and arithmetic, a greater likelihood of attending a four-year college, and a lesser likelihood of becoming a teen parent or using marijuana, for those who participated in the program. Recounting the results of the Perry Preschool program, as a member of the research team, Dr. Lawrence Schweinhart (2002) reported that 7% of adult participants had been arrested five or more times compared with 35% of those who had not participated and 7% of participants had ever been arrested for a drug-related offense compared to 25% of non-participants. Participants were four times more likely to earn $2000 or more per month, almost 3 times as many own their own homes, and twice as many own a second car. Seventy-one percent of participants either graduated high school or received a GED compared to 54% of non-participants. When taking into account the results of higher earnings and income tax revenue, decreased utilization of special education and welfare services, and savings resulting from crime reduction, the study found that every public dollar spent on the program saved $7.16 in tax dollars. Early childhood is identified as the period between birth and age five. This period is a critical time as a child develops emotionally, physically, socially, and cognitively in a way that will affect the rest of his or her life. The pre-school learning is vital to success from kindergarten on into college (White House Bush Administration, 2004). Therefore, the overall goal of Head Start is to influence the level of social competence positively in children from families considered to be living at or below the poverty line. For the purpose of this paper, social competence refers to the child’s effectiveness in dealing with not only his or her current environment, but more about future responsibilities. The interrelatedness of intellectual and cognitive development, mental and physical health, and nutritional requirements are among the most important factors taken into account with social competence (City of Phoenix Human Services Department, 2008). In the 1998 Reauthorization of Head Start, Congress concentrated on perpetuation of the ideals that school readiness has a tremendous influence on the future of the nation. This was based, in part, on current research showing that improving the educational components of preschool programs is the best predictor of childrens future success in school. According to the White House Bush Administration (2004), â€Å"Congress set specific educational goals, including a requirement that at least fifty percent of Head Start teachers have an Associate degree or beyond by 2003, and required prioritized inclusion of reading and math readiness skills in Head Start curricula.† The Head Start program was created to provide comprehensive services to preschool children of low-income families. Included in these services are health services such as frequent medical screening, immunizations, nutritional assistance, and dental care. The services mostly associated with the Head Start program are cognitive development, school readiness, social skills training and enhancement, and mental health services. In addition, parents are given the opportunity to take part in the decision-making process as to the care of their children and as such, the program fosters parental involvement enhancing community cohesion. Additional support services for the families of Head Start participants are also provided. Originally, these services were only available to children between the ages of three and five. In 1994, Head Start was expanded to provide these services for infants and toddlers as well with the program extension of Early Head Start. The program also provides services to children with disabilities and their families. Head Start development programs are intended for low-income families. Family income is one of the primary factors in determining entitlement. The federal poverty guidelines, which are updated annually, are used to evaluate a family’s income. In addition, Early Head Start and Head Start programs must make at least 10% of their enrollment opportunities available to children with disabilities. A family is eligible for Head Start and Early Head Start services if it is able to meet the income guidelines and also one or more of the following: You have children from 6 weeks through 5 years, or You are pregnant, or You have children with special needs with an Individual Education Plan (IEP), or Individual Family Services Plan (IFSP), or You have foster children with high risk factors, or You are a parent with a disability and/or possessing disabling conditions. (Source: Parents in Community Action, Inc., 2009) Additionally, recent changes to entitlement eligibility under 37 U.S.C. 402a (g) allow children and spouses of members of the armed forces who receive supplemental subsistence allowance to withhold that income when being considered for Head Start services. The official verbiage states that any person â€Å"who, except on account of such allowance, would be eligible to receive a service provided under the Head Start Act, shall be considered eligible for such benefits notwithstanding the receipt of the allowance. The subsistence allowance would therefore not be counted in determining eligibility for programs authorized by the Head Start Act (Administration for Children Families, 2009). Grants are awarded by the federal government to local private and public agencies for the sole purpose of implementing Head Start programs to provide comprehensive child betterment and development services to families and children within their communities. Head Start was primarily enacted as a means of helping children, but it does provide services to low-income families as well in order to indirectly provide positive support to the child’s care system in the home. The mission of Head Start is to â€Å"promote school readiness to enable each child to develop to his or her fullest potential† (White House Bush Administration, 2004). As of 2004, more than 900,000 children annually had been reported as taking advantage of the services offered. These services included comprehensive health services, dental and physical exams, immunizations, and nutritional services, in addition to the education-related services. However, only 20% of the 900,000 children served in 2004 were enrolled in programs that provided full-day/full-year services for children of working families. In the fiscal year 2004, President Bush, according to the White House Bush Administration (2004) requested $6.8 billion in Head Start Program funding, which was an increase of more than $148 million over 2003. Beyond Head Start, federal legislation has created several other preschool programs aimed primarily at improving upon the academic growth of children considered poor and/or disabled. These include: Title I preschool program, which is intended to help prepare children for school in high poverty communities Early Head Start to promote healthy prenatal care for pregnant mothers and to enhance the development of infants and children under age 3 Special Education Preschool Grants, State Grants program, and the Special Education Grants for Infants and Families program, which between them provide funds for states to build early education programs for children with disabilities between birth and age 5. In addition to the preschool programs that have a primarily educational focus, the federal government provides states with $4.8 billion through the Child Care and Development Block Grant in order to pay for childcare programs. States have also used as much as $4 billion annually from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant program to pay for childcare that serves working poor and low-income mothers (White House Bush Administration, 2004).

Hatred in Swifts Gullivers Travels and Hartleys Film No Such Thing :: essays research papers

Misanthropy, or hatred of humankind, is one of the strongest feelings that people can have. In his novel Gulliver’s Travels, the author Jonathan Swift explores what causes this emotion. Likewise, Hal Hartley attempts to explain the roots of hatred through his film No Such Thing. Through their works, both men claim that it is not a universal emotion, but rather it is felt only by more evolved creatures. Hatred is a product of knowledge and the sense of superiority it creates in those who posses it. Swift interprets hatred to be an unpreventable consequence of intelligence. During his fourth voyage, Gulliver lands on the island of the Houyhnhnms, a race of horse-like creatures, and the Yahoos, human-like animals. The Houyhnhnms dominate over the Yahoos, much as humans rule over horses. These creatures hold their servants in disdain, viewing them as lower life forms. The Houyhnhnms are exponentially more evolved than the Yahoos, exhibiting a civilized form of society, while the Yahoos live in ape-like tribes and labor for the Houyhnhnms. Gulliver soon begins to view them in the same light: â€Å"There were few greater lovers of Mankind, at that time, than myself, yet I confess I never saw any sensitive Being so detestable on all Accounts, and the more I came near them, the more hateful they grew† (187). Gulliver sees how unintelligent and uncivilized the Yahoos are, causing him to think himself better than they are. The Houyhnhnms also notice the difference betwee n the Yahoos and him: â€Å"Every Servant of his House were desirous to teach me. For they looked upon it as a Prodigy that a brute Animal should discover such Marks of a ration Creature† (190). Although the Houyhnhnms initially look upon Gulliver was disdain, assuming that he is one of the Yahoos, they begin to treat him with respect after he demonstrates his intelligence to them. They only hold Gulliver in contempt while they believe that he is as stupid and uncivilized as the Yahoos, but once he proves that he is as well-mannered and intelligent as the Houyhnhnms are, their hatred diminishes. They treat him respectfully when they view him as an equal. Gulliver, on the other hand, becomes more and more misanthropic as he stays on the island. He knows immediately the difference between himself and the Yahoos.

Are Earthquakes Becoming More Frequent: GCSE Case study

During this case study, I will be investigating a question: are earthquakes are becoming more frequent? Throughout this investigation, I will be explaining how earthquakes are detected, how they are caused, presenting an argument for and against this debate etc. At the end of my case study, I will formulate an opinion based on the evidence that I have gathered. I will also be questioning the reliability of my sources of information. If you want to analyse the sources yourself, the links to the websites will be available on the bibliography page. I will also acquire statistics to further support the argument being made by both sides. Diagrams will give visual aid to help understand this controversial issue. (Picture of earthquake damaged buildings) What are earthquakes? Firstly, Earthquakes are usually caused when rock underground suddenly breaks along a fault. This sudden release of energy causes the seismic waves that make the ground shake. When two blocks of rock or two plates are rubbing against each other, they stick a little. They don't just slide smoothly; the rocks catch on each other. The rocks are still pushing against each other, but not moving. After a while, the rocks break because of all the pressure that's built up. When the rocks break, the earthquake occurs. During the earthquake and afterward, the plates or blocks of rock start moving, and they continue to move until they get stuck again. The spot underground where the rock breaks is called the focus of the earthquake. The place right above the focus (on top of the ground) is called the epicenter of the earthquake. (picture showing epicentre of earthquake) Earthquakes can cause a lot of damage. Earthquakes have the power to uproot trees and send them crashing into buildings. They can trigger landslides and avalanches, and cause flooding and tsunamis. Human structures are also at risk. It is interesting to note that tall buildings will sustain the least damage if they are located directly at the epicenter. This is because they can withstand the up-and-down motion of P-waves. S-waves, on the other hand, occur far away from the epicenter, and cause the greatest stress by shaking buildings from side to side. These buildings are often knocked off their foundations. (Diagram of P and s-waves)

Artistic and Intellectual Developments in Japan and Europe...

In the late 18th century both Japan and Europe were experiencing many new artistic and intellectual developments. While Europe’s developments were increasingly political, more and more people wanted rights for women along with protection from the state. Japan on the other hand was progressively modernizing from their isolated feudal society into its modern form now. Beginning in Tokyo many new intellectual advances came from studying the western sciences and techniques. Authors like Rousseau and Wollstonecraft wrote revolutionary books in Europe that changed the way people thought about themselves and what rights they should be born with; they led people to question the state and fight for what they believed to be justifiably right. In†¦show more content†¦He depicted citizens having power over their own lives and getting a chance to have a say in what effects them rather than having a monarch tell them when and how something should be done. With this new social contract citizens have a voice and have a form of protection from the state. Throughout this century, as more and more intellectual developments occur the increase in education becomes more important than ever. Thankfully the Enlightenment period and the French Revolution brought along with them the development of the educational system. The new forms of printing lead to an increase of available books which overall produced a larger reading public. At one point of time education was only a privilege of the upper class, but as the 18th century rolled in and changes were made education became available to all classes. As Europe continued to advance surrounding countries like japan would try to copy and recreate the same types of evolution in their country to keep up with the rest of the world, some the same and others not so much. Japan at the turn of the century was clearly trying to westernize and change is isolated society into one more intellectually and scientifically involved with the rest of the world. When the Japanese open their ports to the western civilization food and merchandise were not the only things being traded. When ports were open the western way of living was integrated with the Japanese culture which gradually changed the way theShow MoreRelatedThe Spread of Buddhism Essay1149 Words   |  5 Pagesteachings. But they, too, encouraged disagreements, so that one group after another left the fold. Ultimately, 18 schools developed, each with their own interpretations of various issues, and spread all over India and Southeast Asia. A significant development happened at the same time as the Buddhist movement began to spread and that was the opening of a new way through, from India to China. 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